Justin Bailey | Winger | #56

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Justin Bailey wants to play at the NHL level in 2017-18.

"My dream and my goal is to play in the NHL," Bailey said. "I need to have a good, strong summer and start in training camp better than I did last year, show them that I'm for real and that I can come and make the team out of camp." He didn't have a very good camp last time around and spent most of the season in the minors. In 52 games with Rochester, Bailey recorded 23 goals and 36 points. He produced just four points in 32 appearances with the Sabres, while averaging 10:37 of ice time. May 10 - 9:53 AM

Bailey sat out Thursday with the foot injury. Like he has done in so many games, Bailey was held off the scoresheet Friday but did have a shot on goal. The winger has two goals and four points in 30 games this season. Mar 18 - 2:03 AM

Justin Bailey is questionable for Thursday because of a foot injury.

He sustained the injury on a blocked shot Tuesday and didn't practice Wednesday. Bailey has two goals and two helpers in 29 appearances with the Sabres this year. Mar 16 - 8:29 AM

Depth Charts

Jack Eichel believes the Buffalo Sabres can be a playoff team next season.

The Sabres have been one of the bottom teams in the league for the last few years, but Eichel believes there's reason for optimism. "We think we can be really good," Eichel said. "We think we can be a playoff team. That's what's important. We have to go into training camp with the right mindset, get the season off and running, put our best foot forward." The 20-year-old had 24 goals and 57 points in 61 games last year.

Ryan O'Reilly played very well for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championship.

O'Reilly scored some key goals throughout the tournament, including his team's only goal in the Gold Medal Game. Unfortunately for O'Reilly, his team came up short against Team Sweden. The Sabres forward finished the tournament with nine points in 10 contests. He's now collected two golds and a silver in the last three tournaments.

The Buffalo Sabres have signed Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year deal worth $3.2 million total.

That works out to an annual average value of $1.6 million per year. The 23-year-old had a difficult season in 2016-17, as he scored just seven goals and nine assists in 75 games. Don't expect him to have any fantasy value going into next season.

Evander Kane still could be moved by Buffalo, but it may be after the 2017-18 season begins.

NHL insider Darren Dreger told Buffalo's WGR 550 on Friday morning that there wasn't much going on pertaining to Kane right now, but that's not surprising considering it's a slow time for movement. "That's not to say that Botterill isn't getting calls," Dreger said. "I don't know that he is or he isn't. The party line has been that it's a team that's in the win-now mode – that may consider themselves a Stanley Cup contender, perhaps an older team – that would and has showed the most interest in Evander Kane. But I think that those general managers with those few clubs would also want to see how he starts the year. Let's see how his off-season went. It sounds like, in the limited research that I've done, that he's worked pretty hard and he's motivated going into the contract year." Kane could increase his trade value with a hot start or perhaps it could convince the Sabres to keep him around and offer him a new deal.

Swedish World Junior Championship coach Tomas Monten expects Alexander Nylander to be on the Sabres in 2017-18.

Nylander didn't participate in the World Junior Summer Showcase because Sweden doesn't think he will be available for the tournament. "I don't think so," Monten said. "Of course if Buffalo wants him to play, we're going to keep our door open. He for sure has a spot on our team but I think he's going to make Buffalo this year. That's why I didn't bring him. We haven't talked in the summer. Of course I'm going to ask Buffalo what they think. If he's available, we'll take him for sure but I don't think he is. I think he's going to play in Buffalo." Nylander got the green light to play in the 2017 World Junior Championship because he was playing in the AHL at the time. He was a key player for the team with 12 points in seven games.

With the NHL expansion draft less than a month away, The Buffalo News has linked Matt Moulson as one of the players Vegas might target.

Vegas GM George McPhee knows Moulson very well, as he is the godfather to Moulson's wife, Alicia. Moulson might just be the veteran forward McPhee is looking for to mentor some of the younger players the Golden Knights will draft, something Moulson did well with Jack Eichel in Buffalo. Going to Vegas would likely put Moulson in a top-six role and back on fantasy radars going into next season. Despite bottom line minutes for most of the season, Moulson is considered as being somewhat of a power play specialist with 11 power play goals on the year, good for 15th most in the NHL. Sabres fans will be hoping family ties are enough for Vegas to draft Moulson, seeing as the 33-year-old carries a $5 million cap-hit for the next two seasons.

It seems like the Sabres will give Benoit Pouliot a chance to play on the team's second line.

There are left-wing openings on the Sabres' second, third and fourth lines and Pouliot will fill one of those spots. Which one, will be up to him. "If you look at Ben’s history in situations where he’s had a difficult season, he’s been able to bounce back strong," said Buffalo GM Jason Botterill. "That’s what we’re looking for for him coming to Buffalo. I think there’s opportunities on our left side right now. I think he’s a guy that can play anywhere in the two, three, four hole. It’s going to be a matter of how he comes in and how he performs. "But you look at his size, the ability to get on the forecheck, we just felt it was a guy that could complement our centers and be a guy that could sort of get his career back on track." Needless to say, Pouliot he can grab a gig on the second line, his fantasy value could get a boost.

Nicolas Deslauriers is expected to be scratched against the Islanders on Sunday afternoon.

Through 39 games this season the rugged winger has picked up two helpers along with 38 PIMs and 108 hits. He's also seen a career-low of 6:59 of average ice time per game, a 3:33 drop from his career average.

Okposo was admitted to Buffalo General Medical Center on April 2 to be treated for the effects of a concussion. "I've worked with a lot of different people -- concussion experts and people who have dealt with concussions themselves -- and I feel confident in the fact that I can play hockey again," Okposo stated in an open letter to the fans. "In fact, I know I can play again. I know I can play and not worry about hitting my head, which is a major hurdle for someone who's dealt with this. If I didn't feel 100 percent right now, that probably wouldn't be the case." He had a reaction to the medication he was taking and spent some time at the Neuro Surgical ICU to get stabilized. Okposo took part in a summer game in July and he will be on the ice for training camp.

The Buffalo Sabres aren't working on a contract extension with Sam Reinhart at this time.

"We're excited with Sam but I don't think Sam from a contract standpoint will happen this summer," Sabres GM Jason Botterill said. "We have him under contract another year and we'll see how things play out." Reinhart was the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and so far he's been good, but not great with 40 goals and 90 points in 167 career games. The 21-year-old has plenty of upside still though, so he might develop into a star. Waiting another season before negotiating with Reinhart might make sense for both sides as it will give them more time to determine what his long-term value might be.

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella, and a 2018 fourth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno, and a 2018 third-round selection.

Pominville is coming back to the team that drafted him in 2001. He had some superb seasons in Buffalo with his highlights being his 80-point campaign in 2007-08 and his 30-goal, 73-point showing in 2011-12. Unfortunately the 34-year-old (he'll turn 35 in November) has declined in recent years and is coming off a season where he was limited to 13 goals and 47 points in 78 contests. We'll see if a return to where his career started can rejuvenate him in the twilight of his playing days.

"My dream and my goal is to play in the NHL," Bailey said. "I need to have a good, strong summer and start in training camp better than I did last year, show them that I'm for real and that I can come and make the team out of camp." He didn't have a very good camp last time around and spent most of the season in the minors. In 52 games with Rochester, Bailey recorded 23 goals and 36 points. He produced just four points in 32 appearances with the Sabres, while averaging 10:37 of ice time.

Nicholas Baptiste wants to claim an NHL spot out of training camp next year.

"My goal is to make the team," Baptiste said. "When I was up there, I showed that I could play up there and play with those guys. For me, it's bringing tons of speed. Obviously, my scoring ability is something that I've got to continue to do, bringing energy. I'll have a great opportunity next year to hopefully make that roster." He had three goals and one assist in 14 appearances with the Sabres in 2016-17. Baptiste also registered 25 markers and 41 points in 59 contests with Rochester of the AHL.

Zach Bogosian logged a career-high 33:29 of ice time on Tuesday night.

He got some increased responsibility after Rasmus Ristolainen was ejected early into the match for a hit on Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel. Buffalo has a banged up defense right now, with recent call-ups Brady Austin and Casey Nelson in the lineup, so that also contributed to Bogosian's playing time.

Nathan Beaulieu has signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

Beaulieu's new deal has annual average value of $2.4 million. The settlement avoids another potential arbitration hearing in the NHL this summer. Beaulieu achieved personal bests offensively in 2016-17 with four goals and 24 assists for 28 points in 74 games. He was obtained from Montreal in the off-season and play his first year with the Sabres in 2017-18.

"He's made a few gaffes with the puck in costly situations, costly areas," coach Dan Bylsma said. "He's kind of gotten into a bit of a hole as a result of it and lost a little confidence with his puck play, and we've seen that the last couple games." McCabe is expected to be back in the lineup for the last two games after this brief break to recollect himself. He has posted a minus-12 rating in his last 14 games.

Marco Scandella is looking forward to working for new Sabres head coach Phil Housley.

Housley comes with an impressive resume as a Hall of Fame defenseman and Nashville Predators assistant coach. "Look at what he's done with Nashville's D corps," Scandella said. "He was an All-Star defenseman, and that he believes in me gives me a lot of pride. I think we're going to work really well together. I know I'm going to learn a lot off of him. I think he has a lot to teach. I'm all ears and I'm super excited about the new challenge." The Wild traded Scandella to Buffalo in June. He's a solid defenseman, but not enough of an offensive one to put him on most owners' radar in standard fantasy leagues.

Gorges has been absent since Jan. 5th. Through 34 games this season he has posted one point along with 25 PIMs, 62 blocks and 77 hits. Get him back in your lineup if you're in a pool that supports his talents.

Viktor Antipin has agreed to a one-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

Antipin had six goals and 24 points in 59 KHL games last season. "Victor is a well-rounded defenseman who has played in all situations at the pro level," Sabres GM Jason Botterill said. "His mobility and puck-moving skills make him a perfect match for what we’re hoping to build with our defense corps next season." The 24-year-old blueliner had previously announced his intentions to play for Buffalo, so this signing is just confirmation of what was already assumed.

Tennyson toiled on the Hurricanes' blueline last season posting a modest five points in 37 games. He will battle for a job on the Sabres' third defense pairing but we're betting he plays most of the season in Rochester of the AHL.

Robin Lehner has agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $4 million with the Buffalo Sabres.

Lehner set new career highs in games played (59), wins (23) and shutouts (2) in 2016-17 during his first full season as the starting goalie for the Sabres. He spent most of the previous campaign on the sidelines due to injury. Lehner also stopped the third-most shots in the league (1,758), while posting an impressive .920 save percentage.

The Sabres have signed the underrated Johnson to a one-year, $2.5 million deal to be starter Robin Lehner’s backup next season. Johnson carried the Flames in the early part of the 2016-17 campaign while Brian Elliott was floundering and is a very capable number two.

With the signing of free agent Chad Johnson, Linus Ullmark is slated to start the 2017-18 season in Rochester of the AHL.

The Sabres are still high on Ullmark but GM Jason Botterill said Saturday that the team is happy with the tandem of Robin Lehner and Johnson in Buffalo next season. "We’ve always viewed Ullmark as a very importance piece of our organization moving forward," Botterill said. "He’s a goalie that has taken big strides in his game the last 12 months or so here. He’s a guy that I’m getting more familiar with. "I think he could handle the backup role in the National Hockey League this upcoming year, but it’s also as a young goalie, I’m a big believer that he needs to be playing. I think with the scenario of having Robin and Chad, and Ullmark in the three hole, it’s a real strength of our organization. If there is injuries along the way, we’re going to be well-prepared." Unless you have a deppe pool with a reserve list, it may be time to cut Ullmark loose.